Method and means for effecting entrance into germ free enclosures and the like



April 1963 G. T. SAUNDERS 3,084,684

METHOD AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING ENTRANCE INTO GERM FREE ENCLOSURES ANDTHE LIKE Filed April 25, 1959 United States Patent Mich, assiguor toKewaunee Adrian, Mich, a corpora- The invention is directed generally toexperimental enclosures and the like, as for example, those involvingcontrolled atmospheres, and more particuarly to an entrance structure orwork or manipulation openings there- In general, operations in theinterior of such enclosures are normally performed in one of two ways,1st, by remote control means which is manipulated from the outside ofthe enclosure and actuates corresponding means inside, and 2nd, suitablefor most applications, the utilization of rubber gloves on the hand andarms of the operator, the glove openings being secured in sealingrelation with the walls of the enclosure. The enclosure, in such case,is provided with an external tubular-shaped glovereceiving member,secured to the side wall of the enclosure and defining the accessopening therethrough. In practice, the hand-receiving opening of theglove is secured to such mounting member and the operator may then puthis hand and arm into the glove, inserting the same through the openingin the enclosure side wall. Two openings are normally provided, one foreach hand.

It will be appreciated that in some instances, as for example, involvinggerm free enclosures and the like, the demand for which has increasedtremendously in the last few years, the duration of effective germ freeuse of the enclosure has been substantially limited to the life of thegloves used therewith, as obviously in the event of damage to the glovesand a rupture therein, contamination of the interior will result.

The present invention has among its objects the utilization of a novelmethod, production of a novel entrance structure by means of which theusable life period of the enclosure, as for example, for germ freeexperiments, insofar as the same is dependent on the gloves employed,may be substantially multiplied, thus materially increasing theeffectiveness of the entire structure.

Another object of the invention is the production of such an entrancestructure which is exceedingly simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture and yet highly efiicient for the purposes intended.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown anddescribed will be obvious to those skilled in the art from thedisclosure herein given.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like orcorresponding parts:

FIG. 1 i a perspective view of an enclosure of a type to which thepresent invention is particularly applicable and illustrating a pair ofnatural or synthetic rubber gloves mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one of the access openingsillustrating the application of the present invention thereto; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of two pairs ofgloves, one of which is placed inside the enclosure prior to its use andthe second pair initially applied to the enclosure. Provision is madefor mounting the inner pair of gloves to the enclosure by manipulationof the operator through the first pair of gloves and following properpositioning of the inner pair, the outer pair may be removed anddiscarded without destroying the isolation or germ free characteristicsof the enclosure "ice interior. These results are achieved in theembodiment illustrated by providing novel mounting means at theenclosure interior adapted to receive the inner pair of gloves. Thusinsofar as the gloves are concerned, the usuable span of the enclosureis substantially doubled.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates generallyan enclosure comprising end walls '2, one of which is illustrated inFIG. 1 and the opposite in FIG. 2, a bottom wall 3, a top wall 4 andfront and rear walls, only the front wall 5 being illustrated. Extendingdiagonally is a transparent viewing window 7 suitably supported by theenclosure in air-tight relation, that illustrated comprising a glasspanel 8 having a pcripheral rim 9 formed of suitable material andsecured in place by a frame or clamps 11 secured to the flange 12 of theenclosure by suitable means such as bolts 13. These details of theenclosure structure form no part of the present invention.

The front wall 5 of the enclosure is provided with a pair of accessopenings 15 therein which are illustrated as being of cylindrical shapeand adapted to receive a tubular glove supporting member indicatedgenerally by the numeral 16, the latter being of approximately the sameouter diameter as the opening 15 and extends through the opening 15, theintermediate portion 17 being secured to the front wall 5 by suitablemeans, as for example, soldering or welding 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the members 16 may be provided withsuitable rolled peripheral edges 19 and 21 and positioned adjacent therespective rolled edges 19 and 21 and the adjacent faces of the frontwall 5 are grooves or channels 22 and 23. For the purposes ofidentification, the channel 22 will hereinafter be referred to as theouter channel and the channel 23 as the inner channel.

The members 16 are approximately six inches in diameter and thus readilycapable of receiving the arm of the operator. Secured to each of themembers 16 is a glove indicated generally by the numeral 24, having ahand portion 25 and arm or gauntlet portion 26, the upper free end ofthe latter being suitably formed, as for example, with an enlarged ribor edge 27. The rib 27 is normally of a considerably less diameter inits unapplied condition than the diameter of the grooves or channels 22and 23, so that the open end of the glove may be readily stretched andapplied over the outer rolled edge 19 of the mounting member 16 and therib 27 snapped into the outer channel 22. When not in use, the glovespreferably may be permitted to hang outside the enclosure as illustratedin FIG. 1. However, when it is desired to use the same, the operatormerely inserts his hands in the gloves, running the latter right sideout to position the users arms within the enclosure, the glove takingmore or less the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

*In practicing the invention, an extra pair of gloves 24' is initiallyplaced in the enclosure, preferably adjacent one of the access openings,and the outer gloves 24 applied to the mounting member 16 as heretoforedescribed.

Following sterilization of the enclosure interior and thus the gloves24- and 24', all operations will initially be maintained through therubber gloves 24.

The gloves 24 will have a usable life which may be determined byexperience, such life expectancy of course depending on the nature ofthe use of the enclosure, etc. Thus, for example, where ultra violetlight is involved, the life of the gloves may be less than under otherconditions. After the gloves have been in use and it appears that theyare reaching the end of their usability, and before the existence of anyrupture therein which would result in contamination of the enclosureinterior, the operator, with his hands inserted in the gloves 24, picksup the inner pair of gloves 24 and places first one and then the other3,0sa,ess

1:3 on the inner end of each member 16, as indicated in dotted lines inFIG. 2. Following the application of each inner glove 24 in operativeposition, the outer worn out glove 24 may be Withdrawn from the outerportion of the member 16. Use of the enclosure may then continue untilthe second pair of gloves 24- is worn out.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein more thantwo pairs of gloves may be employed, the particular constructionillustrated enabling the use of four pairs of gloves.

In this construction the glove supporting member 16 is provided withfour grooves, 27a and 22b at the exterior of the enclosure wall 5, and23a and 2312 at the interior thereof.

In use, one pair of gloves would be mounted on the respective members1'6 with the rib 27 of each glove in one of the grooves 22a of suchmembers and three pairs of gloves positioned within the enclosure. Asthe first pair nears the end of its usability, the next pair 24b ispositioned with the ribs 27 positioned in the grooves 24!). This may beaccomplished without undue difiiculty by manipulation through theassociated mounted glove, first on one member 16' and then on the other.Following the use of such pair, a third pair 24c is mounted on theinterior of the member 16 with the ribs 27 positioned in the grooves23a, and subsequently the fourth pair 24d with the ribs 27 thereofmounted in the grooves 23b.

Obviously, the number of grooves may be multiplied, as desired, withinphysical limitations which may be imposed upon the internal and externallengths of the mounting members 16, enabling a great extension in theduration of usability of an enclosure of this type.

While I have illustrated the mounting members as utilizing axiallyspaced grooves, obviously variations may be made in the construction ofsuch members.

The life of the gloves employed was, until the present invention, one ofthe controlling factors in the duration of usability of germ freeenclosures and the like, and the material increase in such usabilitytherefore represents a very decided advance in the art.

it will be noted that the present invention provides a very emcientmethod and apparatus for increasing the usability of germ treeenclosures and the like and these results may be accomplished with avery simple, inexpensive construction.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that variousimmaterial modifications may be made in the same Without departing fromthe spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood aslimiting myself to the exact method, form, construction, arrangement andcombination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to Patent is:

l. The method of changing gloves for increasing the continuance in timeof usability of an experimental enclosure provided with a controlledatmosphere and including tubular-shaped glove-receiving membersincluding a plurality of complementally formed and axially positionedglove-receiving means operatively mounted with respect to saidexperimental enclosure and providing armreceiving openings therein,which comprises the steps: initially placing a pair of gloves inside theenclosure, then operatively securing a second pair of gloves to saidtubular-shaped glove-receiving members of the experimental enclosure insealing relation with respect to said armreceiving openings whereby theymay extend through said arm-receiving openings into the experimentalenclosure, sterilizing the interior of said experimental enclosure andsaid first pair of gloves and the surfaces of said second pair of glovesdisposed within the experimental enclosure, utilizing the second pair ofgloves, prior to rupture thereof and contamination of the interior ofsaid experimental enclosure, for manually manipulating and securing thefirst pair of gloves disposed within the experimental ensecure byLetters closure to said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and inoperative sealing relationship with respect to said arm-receivingopenings and said second pair of gloves, and removing said second pairof gloves from said'tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and utilizingsaid first pair of gloves operatively mounted on said tubular-shapedglove-receiving members to maintain the sterilized condition of theinterior of said experimental enclosure.

2. The method of changing gloves for increasing the continuance in timeof usability of an experimental enclosure provided with a controlledatmosphere and in cluding tubular-shaped glove-receiving membersincluding a plurality of outer and inner annular complementally formedand axially positioned glove-receiving means operatively mounted withrespect to said experimental enclosure to extend partially interiorlyand exteriorly of said experimental enclosure and providingarm-receiving openings therein, which comprises the steps: initiallyplacing a pair of gloves inside the enclosure, then operatively securinga second pair of gloves to the exterior end of said outer annularglove-receiving means of said tubularshaped glove-receiving members ofthe experimental enclosure in sealing relation with respect to saidarrn-receiving openings whereby they may extend through saidarm-receiving openings into the experimental enclosure, sterilizing theinterior of said experimental enclosure and said first pair of glovesand the surfaces of said second pair of gloves Within the experimentalenclosure, utilizing the second pair of gloves, prior to rupture thereofand contamination of the interior of said experimental enclosure, formanually manipulating and securing the first pair of gloves disposedwithin the experimental enclosure to said inner annular glove-receivingmeans of said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and in operativesealing relationship with respect to said armreceiving openings and saidsecond pair of gloves, and removing said second pair of gloves from saidouter annular glove-receiving means of said tubular-shapedglove-receiving members and utilizing said first pair of glovesoperatively mounted on said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members tomaintain the sterilized condition of the interior of said experimentalenclosure.

3. The combination with an experimental sterile enclosure including aWall and provided with a controlled atmosphere, said wall includinglaterally spaced entrance means, and said experimental enclosure adaptedto be sealed by a pair of rubber gloves used for manual manipulationwithin the experimental sterile enclosure, of an entrance structurecomprising a pair of annular glovesupporting members providing saidentrance means and including a plurality of similarly formed outer andinner annular complementally formed and axially positionedglove-receiving means, said glove-receiving means axially positionedalong the longitudinal axis of the annular glove-supporting members andon opposite sides of said wall, said glove-supporting members affixed influid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in thewall of the experimental sterile enclosure and defining said entrancemeans thereto, one of said glove-receiving means of the annularglove-supporting members for operatively receiving a pair of rubbergloves positioned exteriorly of said wall of said sterile enclosure, andsaid another of said glove-receiving means for operatively receiving asecond pair of rubber gloves from within the experimental sterileenclosure by manual manipulation by an operator of said first pair ofrubber gloves afiixed to said outer glove-receiving means exteriorly ofsaid Wall and within the experimental sterile enclosure, whereby uponremoval of the first pair of rubber gloves aflixed to said outerglove-receiving means, the second pair of rubber gloves when affixed toanother of said glove-receiving means maintains the sterilized conditionof the interior of said experimental sterile enclosure.

4. The combination with an experimental sterile enclosure including awall and provided with a controlled atmosphere, said wall includinglaterally spaced entrance means, and said experimental enclosure adaptedto be sealed by a pair of rubber gloves used for manual manipulationwithin the experimental sterile enclosure, of an entrance structurecomprising a pair of annular glove-supporting members providing saidentrance means and including a plurality of similarly formed outer andinner annular complementally formed and axially positionedglove-receiving means, said glove-receiving means axially positionedalong the longitudinal axis of the annular glove-supporting members andon opposite sides of said wall, said glove-supporting members afiixed influid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in thewall of the experimental sterile enclosure and defining said entrancemeans thereto, one of said outer glovereceiving means of the annularglove-supporting members for operatively receiving a pair of rubbergloves positioned exteriorly of said wall of said sterile enclosure, andsaid inner glove-receiving means mounted interiorly of said Wall of saidsterile enclosure and for operatively receiving a second pair of rubbergloves from within the experimental sterile enclosure by manualmanipulation of said first pair of rubber gloves affixed to said outerglovereceiving means exteriorly of said Wall and within the experimentalsterile enclosure, whereby upon removal of the first pair of rubbergloves affixed to said outer glovereceiving means, the second pair ofrubber gloves arfixed to the inner glove-receiving means maintains thesterilized condition of the interior of said experimental sterileenclosure.

5. The combination with an experimental enclosure including a wall andprovidedwith a controlled atmosphere, said wall including laterallyspaced entrance means, of an entrance structure comprising a pair ofannular glovesupporting members providing said entrance means andincluding -a plurality of complementally formed outer and inner annularcomplementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means, saidglove-receiving means axially positioned along the longitudinal axis ofthe annular glove-supporting members and on opposite sides of said wall,said annular glove-supporting members secured intermediate their ends influid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in the'wall of the experimental enclosure and defining said entrance meansthereto, each of said glove-receiving means for the end portions of saidannular glove-supporting members including an annular groove formedtherein at each end for operatively receiving respective pairs of rubbergloves upon manipulation by the operator, said rubber gloves including agauntlet portion complementally formed to said annular groove of eachglove-receiving means, one pair of said rubber gloves initiallyoperatively receivable on the surfaces of the outer ends of said annularglovesuppor-ting members and the other pair of said rubber glovesoperatively receivable upon the surfaces of the inner ends of saidglove-supporting members with the respective annular grooves of eachglove-receiving means operative to resist withdrawal of the associatedrubber glove therefrom, said other pair of rubber gloves operativelyreceivable upon the inner ends of said glove-supporting members fromwithin the experimental enclosure by operator-manipulation of said firstpair of rubber gloves detachably afiixed to said glove-receiving meansexteriorly of said *wall and Within the experimental enclosure, wherebyupon removal of the first pair of rubber gloves afiixed to said outerglove-receiving means, the second pair of rubber gloves affixed to theinner glovereceiving means maintains the sterile condition of theinterior of said experimental enclosure.

6. The combination with an experimental enclosure of an entrancestructure according to claim 5, wherein said annular grooves are formedupon the outer surfaces of the outer and inner ends of the annularglove-supporting members, said outer and inner ends of said annularglove-supporting members located on opposite sides of said wall, and herespective pairs of rubber gloves are operatively receivable uponmanipulation by an operator on the outer surfaces of the outer and innerends of the annular glove-supporting members and within the respectiveannular grooves in a predetermined order.

7. The combination with an experimental sterile enclosure including awall and provided with a controlled atmosphere, said wall includinglaterally spaced entrance means, of an entrance structure comprising apair of annular glove-supporting members including a plurality ofcomplementally formed outer and inner annular complementally formed andaxially positioned glove-receiving means, said glove-receiving meansaxially positioned along the longitudinal axis of the annularglove-supporting members and on opposite sides of said wall, saidannular glove-supporting members secured intermediate their ends influid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in theWall of the experimental sterile enclosure and defining said entrancemeans thereto, each of said glove-receiving means for the end portionsof said annular glove-supporting members including an annular grooveformed therein at each end for operatively receiving respective pairs ofrubber gloves, said rubber gloves including a gauntlet portioncomplementally formed to said annular groove of each glove-receivingmeans, one pair of rubber gloves operatively receivable on the surfacesof the outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members exteriorly ofsaid Wall and the other pair of rubber gloves operatively receivableupon the surfaces of the inner ends of said glove-supporting membersinteriorly of said wall with the respective annular grooves operative toresist Withdrawal of the associated rubber gloves therefrom.

8. A sterile enclosure structure provided with a controlled atmosphereand including a pair of rubber gloves operatively connected to saidsterile enclosure and sealed thereto and providing an air-tight unitaryenclosure for maintaining said controlled atmosphere of said sterileenclosure structure, said rubber gloves operatively mounted foroperator-manipulation within the sterile enclosure structure, saidsterile enclosure structure comprising a wall provided with a pair ofaccess openings therein, an annular glove-supporting member positionedin each opening and extending from the Wall in both directions with anintermediate part of the annular glove-supporting member secured to thewall in fluid-tight relationship, said annular glove-supporting memberseach including means positioned at its respective inner and outer endsfor receiving and operatively supporting a glove thereon in an air-tightrelationship for maintaining said controlled atmosphere of said sterileenclosure structure, said firstmentioned pair of rubber glovesdetachably aflixed to the outer ends of said annular glove-supportingmembers, said openings providing access for applying a sterile secondpair of gloves from within the sterile enclosure structure to said innerends of the annular glove-supporting members by operator-manipulation ofsaid first-mentioned pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted upon theouter ends of said annular glove-supporting members for sealing theaccess openings maintaining the controlled atmosphere of the sterileenclosure structure and also maintaining the sterile enclosure structurein its sterile condition.

9. A sterile enclosure structure as defined in claim 8, wherein themeans positioned at its respective inner and outer ends on said annularglove-supporting members for receiving and operatively supporting aglove thereon is constructed to enable the successive mounting of aplurality of sterile gloves from within the enclosure structure on theportions of said annular glove-supporting members at the exterior of thesterile enclosure structure by operator-manipulation of thefirst-mentioned pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted upon the outerends of the snegesa annular glove-supporting members for mountingsterile gloves from within the sterile enclosure outwardly upon thecontiguous successive means for receiving and operatively supporting aglove therein on the outer end of an annular glove-supporting memberwith respect to the firstmentioned pair of rubber gloves and sealing theaccess opening, and thereafter removing said first-mentioned pair ofgloves permitting the next successive pair of gloves mounted from withinthe sterile enclosure structure to seal and maintain the sterileenclosure structure with said controlled atmosphere and also in saidsterile condition.

10. A sterile enclosure structure as defined in claim 8, wherein themeans positioned at its respective inner and outer ends of said annularglove-supporting members for receiving and operatively supporting aglove thereon is constructed to enable the successive mounting of aplurality of sterile gloves from Within the enclosure structure on theportions of said annular glove-supporting members at the interior of thesterile enclosureistructure by operator-manipulation of thefirst-mentioned of said pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted uponthe inner ends of the annular glove-supporting member for mountingsterile gloves from Within the sterile enclosure outwardly uponcontiguous successive means for receiving and supporting a glove thereonan inner end of a glove supporting member and sealing the accessopening, and thereafter removing said first-mentioned pair of glovespermitting the next successive pair of gloves to be mounted from withinthe sterile enclosure structure to seal and maintain the sterileenclosure structure with said controlled atmosphere and also in saidsterilecondition.

l l. A sterile enclosure structure as defined in claim 8, wherein themeans positioned at its respective inner and outer ends of said annularglove-supporting members for receiving and operatively supporting aglove thereon is constructed to enable the successive mounting of aplurality of sterile gloves 'from within the enclosure structure on theportions of said annular glove-supporting members at both the exteriorand interior of the sterile enclosure structure by operator-manipulationof the first-mentioned of said pair of rubber gloves first operativelymounted upon the annular glove-supporting members and sealing the accessopenings to position a successive pair of sterile gloves from within thesterile enclosure structure upon the annular glove-supporting members insuch predetermined order that each successive replacement of sterilegloves from within the enclosure structure maintains the sterileenclosurestructure with its controlled atmosphere and said annular glovesupporting members with the last atmosphere and including a pair ofrubber gloves opera- .tively connected to said enclosure structure andsealed thereto and providing an air-tight unitary enclosure structure,said pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted for operator-manipulationwithin the enclosure structure, said enclosure structure comprising awall provided with a pair of access openings therein, an annularglove-supporting member positioned in each opening and extending fromthe Wall in both directions with an intermediate part of the annularglove-supporting member secured to the Wall in fluid-tight relationship,and defining entrance means thereto, said annular glove-supportingmembers each including annular grooved means positioned at itsrespective ends for receiving and operatively supporting a glove ofrespective pairs of rubber gloves thereon, said firstmentioned pair ofrubber gloves being originally receivable on the surfaces of the outerends of said annular glove-supporting members and another pair of rubbergloves positioned Within the enclosure for later mounting upon thesurfaces of the inner ends of said annular glovesupporting members withthe respective annular groove means operative to resist withdrawal ofthe associated glove therefrom and said openings providing access forapplying said other pair of gloves to said inner ends of the annularglove-supporting members, and upon detachment of said first-mentionedpair of rubber gloves the said other pair of rubber gloves isoperatively connected to said enclosure structure and sealed thereto andproviding an airtight unitary enclosure structure foroperator-manipulation Within the enclosure structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

3. THE COMBINATION WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE INCLUDING AWALL AND PROVIDED WITH A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE, SAID WALL INCLUDINGLATERALLY SPACED ENTRANCE MEANS, AND SAID EXPERIMENTAL ENCLOSURE ADAPTEDTO BE SEALED BY A PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES USED FOR MANUAL MANIPULATIONWITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE, OF AN ENTRANCE STRUCTURECOMPRISING A PAIR OF ANNULAR GLOVESUPPORTING MEMBERS PROVIDING SAIDENTRANCE MEANS AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SIMILARLY FORMED OUTER ANDINNER ANNULAR COMPLEMENTALLY FORMED AND AXIALLY POSITIONEDGLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS, SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS AXIALLY POSITIONEDALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE ANNULAR GLOVE-SUPPORTING MEMBERS ANDON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALL, SAID GLOVE-SUPPORTING MEMBERS AFFIXED INFLUID-TIGHT RELATIONSHIP IN LATERALLY SPACED OPENINGS PROVIDED IN THEWALL OF THE EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE AND DEFINING SAID ENTRANCEMEANS THERETO, ONE OF SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS OF THE ANNULARGLOVE-SUPPORTING MEMBERS FOR OPERATIVELY RECEIVING A PAIR OF RUBBERGLOVES POSITIONED EXTERIORLY OF SAID WALL OF SAID STERILE ENCLOSURE, ANDSAID ANOTHER OF SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY RECEIVING ASECOND PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES FROM WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL STERLIEENCLOSURE BY MANUAL MANIPULATION BY AN OPERATOR OF SAID FIRST PAIR OFRUBBER GLOVES AFFIXED TO SAID OUTER GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS EXTERIORLY OFSAID WALL AND WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE, WHEREBY UPONREMOVAL OF THE FIRST PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES AFFIXED TO SAID OUTERGLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS, THE SECOND PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES WHEN AFFIXED TOANOTHER OF SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS MAINTAINS THE STERILIZED CONDITIONOF THE INTERIOR OF SAID EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE.